Alm was currently looking at a self-portrait of himself that he was reluctant to have. Mostly because he is still trying to figure out what was the artist thinking when he made this. The young king pressed on his chin as the portrait kept making him reflect on himself and how others view him.

The painting himself portrays him just standing there with the Royal Sword which seems okay for the most part. However, the liberties taken were strangest part as this got the attention of the masses and possible outside of Valentia. Something that did ruin his image for the people.

His hair was more simplified that resembles more of Tobin. The face was mostly stale and expressionless with no sense of appeal. The elephant in the room was the armored part below his belt which has a large plate hanging in the middle. That part of the painting alone was the reason for all the troubles that this painting has caused.

"Is my armor really that bulky?" Alm asked.

Before Alm think some more, he heard some arguing and commotion in the library which compelled him to go there. He begin to see many guards and scholars crowding there as they heard roars cheering for Clive for some reason. They were at least nice enough to move out of the way as he saw one of Valentia's greatest knights being beaten to the pulp by a disembodied head.

On the side was Tobin who seems to be warming up for his turn as he stretches his arms. Gray has his wounds tended by a cleric as he seemed upset. Then there was his grandfather, Mycen, being carried off by clerics while being unconscious.

"I have acknowledge you as a formidable fighter," Clive praised, "But I will not falter!"

"If you can't beat me like this, then what chances you have against me with a body!" Saki taunted, "Come at me pretty boy!"

Clive raised his sparring spear prepares to charge at the Terror's head as Saki simply bit the tip of it and climbed her way up to Clive. In the nick of time, Clive manages to punch Saki in the face which ended up being a critical attack. The punch send her flying away from the crowd.

The entire library roared with joy as they saw their greatest knight defeat what was essentially a big pain in the butt. Alm could not help but join the crowd as it was a short but pretty exciting fight. The guards soon clear off to return to their duties with Alm and his friends remaining.

As Clive took a breather, he saw Alm and looked worried, "Ah Alm, my apologies if I seemed unprofessional. It was rather immature of me to engage in combat with the Terror's head here."

"Peace Clive, just explained to me what just happened," Alm said.

"Apparently the Terror was intimidating Gray and Tobin and had a fight. Sir Mycen intervene but had a heart attack in the process, but don't worry he is still alive and will get back on his feet soon. The Terror was a formidable opponent in combat despite lacking a body as it attacked Tobin and Gray by surprised. I had to intervene and then there was this crowd," Clive explained.

Alm looked at Tobin and Gray for further answers as he is more curious than mad. As long as no lives were taken or nothing serious occured, it should be fine.

"As Clive said, she did sneak up on me. I would have taken her down," Tobin bragged.

Gray snickered, "I doubt it."

"Like you're one to talk. You tried stabbing Saki and she didn't even die from being sliced in half!"

"Wait, did you say that you sliced it in half? And why named it Saki?" asked Alm as he scratched his head.

"Yeah man, she just managed to get herself back together and up and at it again. As for why she is named Saki, I don't know. She just said so," Gray answered.

"She can speak Valmese now?" Alm yelped, "I assumed Forsyth 'stabbed' her with knowledge."

Gray nodded as Tobin seemed kind of baffled from this possibility. Alm just smiled over the fact that it happened. Now there is one thing to do left.

"If she can speak Valmese, I guess I can talk to her now," Alm insisted.

"Right, just be careful with her. You saw what she did to Clive," Tobin warned.

Alm took a second look at Clive and saw the results of the battle. Clive's armor was chipping off with some parts of it hang on to dear life with the undergarments in slight tatters. His hair was a huge mess like a bush with some sweat pouring to his forehead.

"I will," Alm assured.

The young king went to fetch Saki's head as he went deeper and deeper into the library. Despite being morning, the lighting of the place can seem to be very dim. There was a brown and orange gradient as the only source of light but there was no need for a torch.

All Alm could see are a collection of books that depict the history of Zofia and findings made by scholars. The books were organized and placed on the shelves in an orderly fashion. One would feel a bit dizzy as most of the books look so similar that you could get lost here.

The only sources of sounds were Alm's footsteps and the banter from his friends from afar. Even thought it was only an instant, the time just to get Saki's head felt like hours. This library was remodeled to be bigger and carried more books, but it looks as if it were to be an ancient dungeon.

"I should really consider getting a better designer," Alm said to himself.

"Hello! Anyone there?!"

Alm was startled from a strange voice that seems familiar. He does have an idea that it was from the Terror from earlier but the crowd from earlier was so loud that he begin to have doubts. Though he was surprised that it was able to speak in his home language now.

While he tried to find the head, he felt something tap on his foot. His first reaction was to kick it immediately assuming that it was a rat. However, he heard a scream that was close to him after the kick and figured that it was no rat as he shook for a bit.

"Wait… oh gods!" Alm shouted as he saw what appears to be the head from earlier cursing at him.

The king then went to the Terror and picked her up by the hair, "Sorry about that. I thought a rat was here."

Saki glares at Alm and spat at him in the face, "Another knight. Really. I'd rather talk to the king if possible."

"I am the king."

The head's eyes widen as she seems disappointed, "Really? Where's your crown?"

"Don't need one," Alm stated, "Besides, I am more here for you."

"Really now? I could try to kill you on the spot and take over this kingdom," Saki taunted.

"Try as you may, I will strike you down before you do," Alm warned as he kept his composure. He was not afraid of the head even after what he saw her do.

Saki observes the king further as she then smiles, "You got guts. I see it in your knights too. I guess there's that redeeming part of this god forsaken place."

"Guts?" Alm questioned.

"You know, pride and all," Saki explained, "You seem like a tough guy despite my doubts from earlier. I can tell by just looking and observing."

"Uh… thanks?"

"Besides that, those guys did put up a good fight. Can't wait to see what you're capable of later. Right now, I kind of realize that I got questions for you too."

"We at least have a mutual agreement then. I'll only answer your questions if you answer ours."

Saki grinned, "You put a fair bargain."

…

In the Priory, Mae had a basket of bread and fruit with a jug of water for Ai, the Terror that lives in the Priory for the time being. It was during the morning when the sun is almost fully up but the people in the Priory woke up much earlier than that.

The pink haired mage knocked on the door at Ai's room as she called out, "Hey Ai! I got you breakfast. Oh wait, I mean… I have breakfast for you!"

All Mae heard was a big yawn and a faint "come in" from the undead girl as she lets herself in. The mage saw Ai barely waking up with crackling noises from her stretches. The terror is currently wearing a white undergarment that appears more like a cloak with nothing special on it.

Same goes for Ai's room as it's basically just a bed and an ordinary room. It looks like a prison cell except the door has no lock and there was a window has a green glass display. There was at least a table on the side of the bed with a small bookshelf next to it.

"Wow, you must be a heavy sleeper," Mae exclaimed, "We didn't wanted to bother you at first, but it was getting later into the day."

"What are you talking about? The sun is almost up," Ai said.

"Here, we kind of have to wake up really early to do church stuff and all," Mae explained, "Gotta work on the farming and the praying, you get the jist."

"I should of have seen that coming," Ai sighed.

"What did you do back at your place?" Mae asked.

"I was an idol back where I lived," Ai answered.

Mae's jaw dropped as she placed the basket of food and jug of water on a nearby table. Perhaps this world do have their own take on idols if they have any.

"An idol? Like some sort of figure of your god? Who is your god?" Mae questioned, "What are you for anyways?"

"I don't mean by that. I'm uh… sort of like a bard or a musician," Ai clarified.

"So you like sing to your god?"

"There are no gods involved Mae. Just us performing for people."

"I assume that this mad man of yours brought you back just for profit?"

"No. Apparently he wanted us to make the place he lives in popular again due to the decline in population."

Mae just sighs, "Why doesn't he just show you Terrors in the public? That would have attracted so many people to see some undead ruffians doing stuff. Even if they would be terrified with you and our friends, it would have been entertaining. No offense."

"None taken," Ai nodded as she grabbed the piece of bread to eat, "The world I lived in kind of don't take the supernatural lightly. Especially magic. I had to wear makeup to look human."

"Pfft. If anyone got a complaint on my magic, I got some shocking ways for them to think otherwise," Mae boasted as she then saw Ai eating, "I know that you don't need to eat, but it's the thought that counts. Though I am surprised that you are capable of eating at all."

"Honestly, I don't know much about my anatomy. I just deal with it as I go," Ai shrugged.

"Welp, we have some lessons for you in learning our language later if you want. It's easy to learn the basics," Mae offered, "I'll even show you where the class is."

"That would be most useful," Ai accepted.

Mae then went out of the door to let Ai eat. The undead girl started to have second thoughts on what has happened to her since her resurrection. Sure it was a pain back there, but she did enjoy being an idol again after dying as one. She has made great friends and met one unappealing man. She can't really interact with the public, but she made do with what she got.

"These people are nice, but I have to find my friends and get out of here," Ai said to herself.

All the undead girl can do now is to just not cause any trouble and hope that things go well. Though it's obvious that it would just be easy said than done.

…

Later that day, Ai is dressed in a black nun like outfit with a rope as a belt. She kept her hair accessories intact as she heads to what was essentially a classroom with Mae showing her the way.

While there were nuns and mages were disgusted as she walked passed them, they never seem to attack or curse at her. That was probably a start for her as she won't have to deal with people trying to kill her in the morning.

Mae then opened the door as she said, "Here we are, good luck on today's lesson."

Mae then left Ai as the Terror enters the room as she quickly encounters a girl in a pink gown and fluffy pink hair sitting where a teacher should sit. She was writing something with a quill as she was muttering stuff to herself. Ai got closer as she called out, "Good morning."

The girl freaked out as she dropped her quill as she stutters, "Oh… uh… you must be that Terror Boey and Mae found!"

Ai looks at the girl with a confused look as she still does not understand Valmese. The girl then scrambles to get her quill as she remembers that Ai speaks in another language.

"Pardon me. My name is Genny and I will be your teacher," Genny squeaked.

"I look forward to your teachings," Ai bowed.

Genny then has a book out, "Umm… shall we begin?"

…

"So in your world, you were a musician? I can't picture you performing," Tobin yelped.

"Got a problem with that?" Saki threatened.

"No, I was just surprised," Tobin replied.

It was in the afternoon in a meeting room with the same group as before as they could finally talk to Saki properly this time. The head was placed in the center as she has all the eyes of these medieval people around her. She showed signs of both flattery and annoyance.

"Honestly, that's a really dumb reason to bring you back at all. Why not just hire actual singers?" Gray questioned.

"I don't know what Shades is thinking!" Saki growled, "That man seriously keep hiding secrets from us."

"Tell us more about your other friends," Clive said, "Assuming that they are also in this world, they might cause panic in all of Valentia."

"There's Egghead who would probably not make it around here on her own. There's Shrimpy who is just a kid. Bandages would do better than Egghead. Disco is probably going to die again. Tae is probably doing whatever. And there is Yuugiri who I never get to know but she might make it," Saki explained.

"So there are seven of you in total!" Clive concluded, "We better have some men search for them."

"We would need to notify all of Valentia as well," Celica suggest, "They need to know that there are more Terrors like Saki here who are capable of being intelligent."

"Hey Queen! I'm right here!" Saki pouted.

"My apologies," Celica apologized, "I just fear for any harm done to the people by your friends or the other way around."

"Counting on the later. Especially for Egghead," Saki assumed.

"So… Egghead… if she is more vulnerable than the others, then we better focus more on her," Celica guessed.

"Probably," Saki said, "But the one you have to worry the most is Tae as unlike the rest of us, she's your typical zombie."

"Meaning?" Gray asked, "We don't know zombies."

Saki would have face palmed if she had hands, "Come on! I told you already. They are just like your… I hate to say this… Terrors."

"Got it," Gray nodded, "Say that next time."

"Whatever Knucklehead," Saki scoffed.

"Would you stop calling me that?!" Gray fumed.

"Then learn to call me a zombie instead!" Saki retorted, "I'm not a Terror! I'm a zombie!"

"I would rather be called Knucklehead than to say that," Gray declared, "Honestly, it really sounds stupid."

"I'll have to agree with Knucklehead here," Alm joked.

"Come on man! Not you too!" Gray moaned.

"I jest," Alm chuckled, "But in all seriousness, we need to start searching."

"I'll notify the guards for departure," Clive said as Alm approved of this proposal.

Clive then leave as Alm then declared that the meeting was adjourned as they all went onto their duties on the matter. However, they forgot a certain someone.

"Hey! You got forgot about me!" Saki cried.

…

Far from the Zofia Harbor, there was an oncoming ship surrounded in dark shadows and mist during a bright and sunny day. It was noticeable by the people who looked out to sea as they dropped what they were doing and had questions racing in their minds.

At the water surrounding the ship, there were corpses raising from it while the ship left behind a dark trail of darkness. The ship itself looks like the most edgy and grimmest thing to ever been made with skeleton decorations with a strange mark on the sails. It was black in color with a decaying look to it as parts of the ship was falling off.

At a much closer glance with a telescope, one could see the crew but the crew could watch back as well. It was filled with nothing but corpses that are up and running the ship! The crew either got working on their ship duties or just stand around like the zombies that they are.

At helm stood what appears to be the leader of this army of the undead, not the captain for the record. There stood a corpse that stood out from the rest with her long black hair and blank red eyes. The corpse wore nun like clothing with bandages covering her arms.

The leader of the undead army gave out small growls before unleashing a loud roar. Loud enough that the people on shore heard it. The undead crew roared back as they raise their arms, ready for conquest. However, there was one of them that did not do so.

"First we ended up in another world and now Tae is some leader of a zombie army. How can this day get worse?" complained the corpse.

…

Author's Note: I finally got another review and they feel bad for Ai. Can't blame them for feeling so. Though Mae and Boey did not attack Ai without reason as they thought she would do something. While the zombie girls are nice people, the characters in Echoes have dealt with many Terrors so of course they are cautious about it all.

Also I do question if I should make this fic have a more B-movie vibe.

Lastly, ten points for those we get the reference in the first part of this chapter.